At one point, the trailer for David Lowerys Mother Mary swears its not a love story. But at the New York premiere for the upcoming A24 musical drama, stars Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel revealed how much it is about love and what one does for the craft, for partnerships, and oneself in the name of it.

The other day somebody said to me its a horror movie and I said, I didnt design a horror movie. I designed a love story, costume designer Bina Diageler said on the carpet Monday evening, while discussing how she pulled from Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, older and modern period looks, the lyrics and song titles, as well as nature to inspire the fashion of Mother Mary. A love story, between friends, between people in a long term relationship, a creative relationship sometimes. Very often its also a love story because the emotions are so you live so much in a creative process. That for me is like a love story. The film follows iconic pop star Mother Mary (Hathaway), who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer (Coel) right before her comeback performance.

For Coel, that story sometimes ventures beyond friendship. Theres so many ways to interpret this film. Its like a dress needs to be made. A friendship needs to be repaired; they need to make each other come, Coel told The Hollywood Reporter. Im not going to lie, in the beginning I thought this is a platonic friendship and da-da da-da da. As the script progressed, I was like, I dont know. When we did the measuring scene, part of me was like, Yes, I need to measure you to make the dress. But its also like, You need to have an orgasm. Im going to give you one.

The I May Destroy You star traveled to Berlin to learn her characters craft. And after being supported in life by her own mother (who in her early days designed her red carpet looks) and on set by a team of experts who ensured she was handling material like an expert, Coels characters love story captures the emotional spectrum of being rendered invisible by a fellow creative and someone you love.

Its easy to understand these things as a woman, as a Black woman, as a person who is aware of Black history and the contributions that people in Black America have made to art and how they disappear. I had a playlist and my playlist was basically full of Black American soul artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s, Coel explained. It was just thinking about the amount that is drawn out from a creative, especially when theyre Black and female just the credit that is lost and the pain of that. Ive had a very privileged career and Im so lucky, but I still understand. Its hard to not understand. So in no way do I mean to say that Ive had something like this, but I know that being in the shadows is something we understand very well.

Michaela Coel, David Lowery and Anne Hathaway Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Hathaway, while discussing Mother Marys journey, also noted that she could partly relate and even draw upon her own characters experience with pain. Ive known pain like everybody, but Ive never been as laid bare as Mother Mary. Ive definitely had to go out when I wanted armor and I felt like I was more soft underbelly, the star said.

For Hathaway, who is in the midst of a PR flurry with the The Devil Wears Prada 2 release also just around the corner, there was a lot about the A24 film that made it a natural chapter in her big screen career. Theres working with David Lowery, which mattered so much to me. Hes such a brilliant director and such a wonderful American auteur. Then theres the crowns of her pop star, which follow on the heels of the Genovia (Princess Diaries 3) and New York media (Prada) variety, as the actress playfully noted while talking to THR.

But also, what it is to be a woman navigating the lighter and darker sides of power and visibility while trying to still love and stay true to herself and her relationships. As I got deeper and deeper into the character, I realized that Mother Mary is what I fear the most, which is what happens if you have to get up in front of people and you have none of your armor left. And in a way, shes completely exposed when you meet her in the movie. She doesnt even know if shes real anymore. And for me, this film and where shes at is a whole cry for help. But its also a last ditch effort of somebody trying to fight for life.

Mother Mary hits select theaters on Friday before going wide April 24.